Trump says he would sign bill to release Epstein files

While Trump said he would sign the bill if it came to his desk, this would require the measure to be scheduled for consideration by the Republican Senate Majority Leader, John Thune.

Donald Trump delivers remarks in the Oval Office. Picture: Getty Images.

President Donald Trump said he would sign legislation to release files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, one day after he abandoned his longstanding opposition to the measure.

The bill would compel the Justice Department to turn over its Epstein-related files, which Democrats and some Republicans for months have pushed the administration to release.

Mr Trump, in remarks to reporters at the White House on Monday afternoon, said he was concerned that Washington’s focus on Epstein would distract from the Republicans’ agenda.

Asked if he would sign the legislation if it reaches his desk, Mr Trump said: “Sure, I would.” “They can do whatever they want. We’ll give them anything,” the President said.

The House is expected to vote this week to release the files. The vote comes after all House Democrats and four Republicans signed a petition to force Speaker Mike Johnson to hold a vote on releasing the documents. If it passes the House, as expected, the Senate would then need to take up the measure.

While Mr Trump said he would sign the bill if it came to his desk, this would require the measure to be scheduled for consideration by the Republican Senate Majority Leader, John Thune.

Senator Thune’s position allows him power to determine the legislative agenda in the chamber - including which bills are brought to the floor for consideration.

This means bills can be shelved indefinitely without his support and Thune is reportedly weighing his options over the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

He is not expected to make a public decision on the issue until after the House votes and has previously said the issue was best handled by the Department of Justice.

Late on Sunday, Mr Trump encouraged House Republicans to vote for the Epstein legislation. The statement amounted to a sharp reversal for the President, who had previously sought to deter Republicans from supporting the measure.

Before Mr Trump’s shift, dozens of Republicans had been expected to break with the President when the measure hit the House floor. Mr Trump’s decision to back the bill avoids a potential embarrassment for the White House.

More than 20,000 emails from Epstein were made public by House Oversight Committee politicians last week, including messages that reference Mr Trump. The tranche of emails included exchanges with a broad network of rich and powerful people, including Democratic figures such as former president Bill Clinton and economist Larry Summers. They also reference people who have been affiliated with Mr Trump, such as his former political strategist, Steve Bannon.

Being mentioned in the emails is not an indication of wrongdoing. Following the release of those documents, Mr Trump pressed the Justice Department to investigate Democrats mentioned in Epstein-related materials.

Mr Johnson and other GOP leaders had joined Mr Trump in arguing against the need for the Epstein vote, saying the effort by the House Oversight Committee was making progress.

Mr Trump has said he cut off ties long before Epstein was first arrested in 2006. Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor for prostitution in 2008. Mr Trump and Epstein socialised together in the 1990s and early 2000s. Mr Trump took several trips on Epstein’s private jet in the 1990s, according to flight logs, and told New York magazine in 2002 that “he’s a lot of fun to be with”. Epstein died in 2019 in jail. His death was ruled a suicide.

GOP representatives Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, along with Democratic representative Ro Khanna of California, have been pushing for a vote on the Epstein measure for months. They were joined on the petition by Republican representatives Nancy Mace and Lauren Boebert. The petition reached 218 signatures, triggering a vote in the House.

Mr Trump last week criticised Ms Greene and Mr Massie. Mr Trump called Ms Greene, once one of his closest allies, a traitor and a Republican in name only, while encouraging a Republican to challenge her in the 2026 GOP primary.

Dow Jones